THE DEPTH CHARGE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 15, 11 October 1937, Page 13

THE DEPTH CHARGE

Potent Counter to the Submarine When employod "by nigh-speedv'essels, such as destroyers, the deptli charge is ithe most potent countcr to the submarine (writes Hector Bywater iu the Daily Telegraph). It consists of a metal container, cliarged with severaf hundredweight of high explosives and fftted with a hydrostatie valve, which can be sct to function at practically any doptli of water, The dopth charge is either dropped overboavd from a rack at tho storn oi- fired out of a single or double morlar, the latler being kjiown as a " Y ' ' gun. When it sinks to the depth to which the valve has been adjasted the charge is automatlcally detpnated. So powqrful is the underwater oyplosion that a submarine in the immediate vicinity would almosfc eertainly be dostroyed. Even at a considerable distance the concusgion may disable tbe boat and compel it to rise to the sur-' face, whero it would fall an easy prey to its - pursuers. Other anti-submarine weapons publicly stated to be used by the British Navy are howitzers firing 1001b and 2001b shells of a special type, and heavy "stick bojnbs" which can be disckarged from the guns of a destroyer. Thariks to the experience gained in the war, and still more to the un remitting study which has been de voted to the subject ever since tlicn, thi British Navy to day is probably aheat of all others in anti-submarine tactics. There is 110 doubt t'uat tho submarine liienaee is far less to bo fearod noiv than iJ. wus during iim WM, fven a few years ago. |